# IHOP vs Cold Stone

The clearest difference is monetization model: Cold Stone at free against IHOP's ad-supported. Cold Stone also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for IHOP against 4.7 for Cold Stone. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 61K and 23K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 13% of IHOP's written reviews are positive against 20% of Cold Stone's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IHOP | Cold Stone |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (61K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ihop/id572284095/reviews)** | [4.7 (23K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cold-stone/id690080616/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **61K** | 23K |
| Positive reviews | 13.0% of reviews | **19.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#78** | #142 |
| Size | 42 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DineEquity, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/550774990) | [Kahala Management, L.L.C.](https://appshunter.io/developer/563332606) |

## What reviewers say

### IHOP

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ihop/id572284095)

**Currently charting:** #78 Top Free · Food & Drink (US App Store)

Easily find nearby locations, order delivery, and pay in store. Earn rewards and track your loyalty account all within the app. Enjoy award-winning pancakes and other favorite menu items.

**Highlights:** Find nearby locations, Order delivery, Pay in store with Pay N’ Go, Earn rewards, Track loyalty account

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy ordering process
- 👍 Customization options
- 🚀 Convenient mobile ordering

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
- 🔍 Limited customization options
- 💰 Lack of payment options
- 🔍 Difficult to track orders
- 🔍 Inconsistent pickup times

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when selecting certain menu items
- Delivery location reverts to default without warning
- Unable to reset password or create new account
- Payment information not saving properly

**Requested features**

- Add ability to tip delivery drivers
- Improve order customization options
- Implement Apple Pay and other digital wallets
- Add order tracking and status updates
- Allow scheduling orders for future pickup/delivery


### Cold Stone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cold-stone/id690080616)

**Currently charting:** #142 Top Free · Food & Drink (US App Store)

Order custom ice cream creations, shakes, or cakes for pickup or delivery. Save your favorite orders, earn rewards, and enjoy exclusive birthday treats through a loyalty program.

**Highlights:** Order ice cream creations, shakes, and cakes, Pickup at store or delivery to door, Save favorite orders and re-order easily, Unlimited customizations, Earn points and redeem rewards, Birthday Buy One, Get One FREE offer

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and easy order and pick up
- 👍 Exceptional ice cream and service
- 💡 Allows store to accept phone number for rewards

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy app features
- 👎 Outdated and clunky app design
- 🤔 Disconnect between app and store inventory
- 💸 Incorrect orders and missing items
- 🤯 Frustrating login and account issues

**Reported bugs**

- Payment processing errors
- Inability to change pickup location
- Rewards not updating properly
- App crashes when trying to add gift cards

**Requested features**

- Ability to reorder previous orders
- Option to select custom ice cream flavors
- Integration with mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
- Easier way to apply rewards and discounts
- Clearer communication on store closures and order availability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IHOP free?

IHOP is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Cold Stone free?

Cold Stone is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, IHOP or Cold Stone?

IHOP is rated higher. IHOP averages 4.8 out of 5 from 61K ratings, while Cold Stone averages 4.7 from 23K ratings.

### Do IHOP or Cold Stone have ads?

Neither IHOP nor Cold Stone shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IHOP or Cold Stone?

IHOP ships an update every 3 weeks, and Cold Stone every 3 weeks. Most recently, IHOP was updated on September 24, 2026 and Cold Stone on September 23, 2026.

### Which is more popular, IHOP or Cold Stone?

IHOP currently peaks at #78 in the App Store charts, and Cold Stone at #142. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*